אני לא אשבע.

I will not make a vow.

Breakdown of אני לא אשבע.

• אני: I
• לא: not
• להישבע: to swear; vow

Questions & Answers about אני לא אשבע.

Why is אשבע translated as I will swear / I won’t swear?

אשבע is the first person singular future form of the verb להישבע (to swear, as in taking an oath).

So:

• אשבע = I will swear
• לא אשבע = I will not swear / I won’t swear

Hebrew usually does not need a separate word for will. The future meaning is built into the verb form itself.

What does לא do here?

לא is the standard Hebrew word for not.

It comes before the verb:

• אני אשבע = I will swear
• אני לא אשבע = I will not swear

This is the normal way to negate a future statement in Hebrew.

Why is אני there if אשבע already means I will swear?